4. Neither rest in any measure of grace, or comfort. What is faith to sight ? We have hope, an anchor, and helmet, that keepeth up many a soul, as the cork keepeth from sinking. Wliat is this hope to the fruition of what we hope for ? Here we have love, many love tokens from God. Aye, but what is love to union ? Ours is but a love of desire. We are but in motion here, we lie in motion only ; and our desires are not accomplished. What is this love to the accomplishing of the imion with the thing beloved for ever ? Here we have communion of saints. But what is this com- munion of saints to communion with God for ever ? We have infirmities here, as others, which breedeth jealousies and suspicion. Aye, but we shall have communion in heaven, and there shall be nothing in us to distaste others, but everlasting friendship. Yea, our communion shall be with per- fect souls. Our communion of saints here is our heaven upon earth, but it is communion with unperfect souls. Peace we have, aye, but it is peace intermixed, it is peace in the midst of enemies. There we shall have peace without enemies. Christ doth now rule in the midst of enemies. In heaven he shall rule in the midst of his friends. So that we can imagine no con- dition here, though never so good, but it is imperfect. And therefore rest not in anjiihing in the world, no not in any measure of grace, any measure of comfort, till we be in heaven, but wait for the time to come, ' and rejoice in hope by which we are saved,' Rom. xii. 12. Wait still, and though we have not content here, yet this is not our home, this is a good refreshment by the way. As when the children of Israel came from Babylon, they had wells by the way, as in Michae,^- they digged up wells. So from Babylon to Jerusalem we have many sweet refreshments ; but they be refi'eshments far ofi' the way. God digs many weUs ; we have breasts of consolation to comfort us, aye, but they are but for the way. And therefore let us answer all temptations, and not take contentment with anything here. It is good, but it is not our home. Cui dulcis perer/iinatio, non amat patriam. If we have t eternity, love heaven, we cannot be overmuch taken with anything in the way.
5. And so for the church, let us not he overmuch dejected for the desola- tion of the church, but pray for a spirit of faith, which doth realise things to the soul and presents them as present to the soul, seeth Babyk)n fallen, pre- sents things in the Scripture phrase, and in the words, ' Babylon is fallen,' for- asmuch as all the enemies of the church fall. Mighty is the Lord that hath spoken, and will perform it, and, as the angel saith, 'it is done,' Rev. xix. 17.
* Sic . . . But qu. ' Micah' and the reference, Micah i. 4?— G. Or ' Baca?' Ps. Ixxxiv. 6. — Ed.
t Qu. ' love ? '—Ed.
ISA. XXV. 9.] BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH. 517
So time will come ere long when it shall be said, ' It is done.' The church shall be gathered, and then, ' Lo, this is our God.'
It was the comfort of the believing Jews that the Gentiles should come. And why shoidd it not be the comfort of the Gentiles that there be blessed times for the ancient people of God, when they shall all cry and say, ' Lo, this is our God ; we have waited for him long, and he will save us.' There- fore, be not overmuch discouraged for whatsoever present desolation the church lieth under. If it were not for this, ' we were of all men most iniserable,' as Paul saith, 1 Cor. xv. 19. But there be times to come when we shall rejoice, and rejoice for ever, and make boast of the Lord. If it were not, ' we were of all men most miserable.' Howsoever happiness is to come, yet of all persons he is most happy that hath Christ and heaven. The very foretaste of happiness is worth all the world. The inward peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, the beginnings of the image of God and of happiness here, is worth all the enjoyments of the world. Ask of any Christian whether he will hang with the greatest worldling, and be in his condition ; he would not change his place in grace for all his glory. And therefore, set heaven aside, the veiT first fniits is better than all the harvest of the world. Let us therefore get the soul raised by faith to see her hap- piness. We need it all, for till the soul get a frame raised up to see its happiness here, specially in the world to come, it is not in a frame fit for any service, it will not stoop to any base sin. Where the affections are so possessed, they look upon all base courses as unworthy of their hope. What ! I that hope to rejoice for ever with God in heaven, that am heir of heaven, that have the image of God upon me, that am in covenant with God, to take any bestial course, to place my happiness in things meaner than myself, that have God to delight in, a God in covenant, that hath taken me into covenant with himself. So I say in all solicitations to sin, get our- selves into a frame that may stand firm and immoveable.